Crimes Punished by Killing Sheep

(Bekwai, Ghana) A local female chop bar (restaurant) owner, Serwaah Serwaah, was accused of collecting urine from three young boys to steam meat and make soup in preparing food for the public.

Alternatively, she said she was making a concoction to cure deafness.

However, after urine collection the three boys became ill and their parents blamed the sickness on Serwaah Serwaah for taking the boys' urine. The parents demanded the urine be returned. Serwaah Serwaah said she had already used it.

Consequently, the parents filed a criminal complaint with the traditional court claiming Serwaah was wicked.

The court then decided that it was wicked of the chop bar operator to commit such a crime and, therefore, decided that the woman should buy two sheep for sacrifice.

The sheep would then be slaughtered and the blood used to pacify the gods and purify the spirits of the three children.

The sacrifice is scheduled to be performed tomorrow Tuesday, August 23, 2011 at the court’s sitting to free the children from any spiritual bondage, as well as any sickness they have contracted as a result of the woman’s activities.

Serwaah was also ordered to pay GH¢500 (about $330) compensation to the children and their parents.

Note that the above instance of crime and punishment, in conjunction with an unrelated recent occurrence, support the contention that crimes in Ghana are typically punished by killing sheep.